Hi all, I just wanted to share. Today google is paying tribute to a singer from our past, Yma Sumac. Her vocal range was tremendous and the most memorable pieces from her are El Condor Pasa
find it on youtube I can't seem to be able to post it here
Though I am not Peruvian, I am a fellow Andean. I grew up hearing many of the songs she perfomed, and I even had an Andean Flute to try to emulate her music. And I just found out that she shared a last name with me!
New Google Doodle Celebrates 'Peruvian Songbird' Yma Sumac
Born Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chávarri del Castillo, Yma grew up in the mountains of Peru, where she would sing to her surroundings and pretend she was performing for an audience. She got her big break as a teenager when she was invited to sing on an Argentine radio station. Listeners were immediately floored by her incredible vocal range; she was known to hit at least five octaves.
The orchid connection is that there is a
Masdevallia hybrid named for her,
M. Yma Sumac. This hybrid, seen here
Masdevallia Yma Sumac by
tenman10mn, on Flickr
is a hybrid with a parent in the Regalia subgenus.
For those of you who know me, you might know that this group of Masdies and their hybrids are my favourite group of
Masdevallias.
M. Yma Sumac;
M. oscitans x
M. Urubamba
M. Urubamba
M. ayabacana x
M. veitchiana